RESULTS The PSD group rats had a significant decrease in body weight, consumption of sucrose water, and locomotor activity but an increase in immobility time during a forced swimming test (P less then 0.01) compared with sham group. Flu and different doses of XNJY significantly recovered these indices (P less then 0.01). XNJY also inhibited neuronal damage and apoptosis in the cortex induced by PSD (P less then 0.01). Furthermore, XNJY reduced the number of Iba1 positive cells and the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, in addition to recovered the levels of 5-HT and NE in the cortex and hippocampus (P less then 0.01). CONCLUSION The alleviation of neuroinflammation might be an important mechanism of the XNJY decoction against PSD. Thus, XNJY might be a promising candidate for the treatment of PSD.OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of Eclipta prostrata (E. prostrata) extract in improving spatial learning and memory deficits in D-galactose-induced aging in rats. METHODS Rats were divided into five groups, with 10 animals in each group. Aging rats were produced by treatment with 100 mg?kg-1?d-1 of D-galactose for 6 weeks. Rats in the E. prostrata treatment groups received an aqueous extract of E. prostrata orally at a concentration of 50, 100, or 200 mg?kg-1?d-1 for 3 weeks. Animals in both the normal and model groups were treated with similar volumes of saline. Spatial memory performance was measured using the Morris water maze. The mRNA levels and enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR and spectrophotometry, respectively. The levels of induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) were determined using enzt are induced by D-galactose treatment in rats. This improvement may be the result of enhanced antioxidative ability, decreased iNOS and NO levels, and the induction of DA, NE, and 5-HT expression in the brain.OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effects of Jiazhu decoction (JZD) in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) on the growth of breast cancer in mice and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms of action. METHODS BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups of 10 (untreated model group, JZD group, CTX group, and JZD + CTX group) and subcutaneously injected with 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells. Tumors were allowed to establish for ~7 d before initiation of treatment with CTX (100 mg/kg every week by intraperitoneal injection) and/or JZD (0.015 mL of 1.65 g/mL crude drug, administered daily by gavage). The model group received equivalent volumes of vehicle on the same schedules. Tumor volumes were measured every 3 d. Mice were sacrificed after 3 weeks of treatment, and tumors were excised and subjected to RT-qPCR and western blot analysis to evaluate expression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway components β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 at the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS The mean tumor volume was smaller and the growth rate was slower in the CTX and JZD + CTX groups compared with the model group (P less then 0.05), and in the JZD + CTX group compared with the CTX and JZD groups (P less then 0.05). Tumor growth was inhibited by 35.4% and 48.1% by CTX and JZD + CTX treatment, respectively (P less then 0.001). The expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 mRNA and protein in tumors was significantly lower in mice treated with JZD or JZD + CTX compared with the untreated mice (P less then 0.05), and was significantly lower in mice treated with JZD + CTX compared with either JZD or CTX alone (P less then 0.05). CONCLUSION JZD inhibited the growth of mouse breast cancer cells in vivo, possibly by reducing the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Combination therapy with JZD plus CTX had a more potent inhibitory effect on breast cancer growth compared with either agent alone.OBJECTIVE To evaluate in vitro and in vivo antiarthritic potential of Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum). METHODS Aqueous methanolic (70?30) extract of S. nigrum was prepared. The in vitro antiarthritic effect was evaluated in terms of its inhibition of protein denaturation and membrane stabilization. While, formaldehyde, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and Collagen induced arthritis rat models were used to study in vivo antiarthritic activities of S. nigrum at dose level of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg. RESULTS The extract exhibited inhibition of protein denaturation and protected red blood cell by stabilizing the membranes in a concentration dependent manner, with maximum effect attained at 800 μg/mL. Moreover, there was a marked reduction in paw edema observed in extract treated animals, when compared to arthritic control animals in all in vivo models and 800 mg/kg dose got maximum reduction of paw edema. In CFA and collagen models, plant extract restored body weight, hematologic parameters, radiographic and histopathologic alterations towards normal. CONCLUSION It could be concluded that S. nigrum holds antiarthritic potential, supporting its traditional use in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Young Yum pill (YYP) on inflammatory mediators in cultured RAW 264.7 cells and elucidate the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-related mechanism behind the action. METHODS YYP was extracted with 95% ethanol Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages were used to evaluate the effect of YYP on inflammatory mediators. Production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by Griess test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/3-methyladenine.html The levels of genes and proteins involved in the generation of inflammatory mediators were examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS YYP dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced production of NO, PGE2 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and elevation of mRNA and protein levels of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These observations were associated with decreased NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and nuclear localization, enhanced Akt (protein kinase B) phosphorylation, as well as reduced inhibitor of κB (IκB) α degradation and IκB kinase α/β phosphorylation.